What causes a kitten's claws to break and fall off repeatedly?

Question

My male kitten is having chronic issues with his claws, they keep breaking or shattering right off his toe, thereare 2 missing claws on the front paw and just broke 1 on the back paw. No claw, just the little red nub underneath. Could this be a vitamin deficiency or birth defect, I've cleaned & bandaged them but it hurts to even touch them. Saw his vet about another claw, they gave him E-Collar & Metacam for 3d, told they would grow back, he's since lost 3 more.I have never seen this before. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 5 months and 8 days old | 6 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

I think your vet will have to do more investigation to determine what is going on with Tiberius' nails. I do not think you are likely dealing with a vitamin deficiency (especially if he is on a commercial diet) or a birth problem. Since he is young, he may have a fungal infection that is involving his nail beds. Another possibility is an auto-immune condition or a drug reaction (both of which would be unusual in a young cat). Unfortunately, cases involving nail beds can sometimes be difficult to diagnose and will sometimes require a biopsy. Hopefully your veterinarian can determine what is going on with a little more testing and determine the best treatment for Tiberius. Good luck! I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

What causes a kitten's claws to break and fall off repeatedly?

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